What, why and when of all-India truckers' strike

With the nation-wide truckers' strike entering its fifth day, here is everything you need to know about the stir.

The lorries parked at CMDA truck turminus following nation wide strike against the fuel hike in Chennai . ( Photo | P Jawahar/ EPS)

The All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) on June 20 announced to go on an indefinite nationwide strike to protest against the government for various issues, including a demand to rationalise taxes on diesel and reduce its prices, in accordance with the international market.

The organisation declared that 93 lakh trucks and other goods vehicles will stay off the roads across the country as a part of the agitation.

IN PICS | As the nationwide trucker strike persists, here's all you need to know

The unanimous decision to go for an indefinite 'nationwide Chakkajam' from July 20 was taken at the 205th meeting of the governing council of AIMTC.

With the strike entering its fifth day, here is everything you need to know about the stir.

What are their demands?

• Reduction in diesel prices through tax cut by bringing it under GST, uniform pricing nationally and quarterly revision.

• Toll barrier-free India.

• Transparency and reduction in third-party insurance premium. Exemption of GST on TPP and abolish excess commission paid to agents through comprehensive policy.

• Abolition of TDS, rationalisation of presumptive income in section 44AE of Income Tax Act & E-way bill operational issues.

• National permit for buses and tourist vehicles.

• Abolition of Direct Port Delivery (DPD) tendering system; streamlining of port congestion.

Why did the talks with the government fail?

• The AIMTC members on July 19 met Union Minister Piyush Goyal and Road & Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari at the Transport Bhavan in Delhi and held talks regarding the issue.

• According to media reports, an official close to Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari's office informed that during the meeting, transporters were conveyed that instant solutions cannot be provided to the truckers' demands but assured them that the government is exploring options.

• On July 23, the official social media handle of AIMTC tweeted saying, "The transport fraternity of India has suspended its operations since last four days, but the government remain insensitive to the perils of this sector and its burning issues. More than 15 crore people associated with this trade and pained and disappointed at the current scenario."

Timeline of the strike- July 19: AIMTC holds talks with Centre, which end on an inconclusive note. Following this, the core committee chairman Bal Malkit Singh said, “We will go on with the indefinite strike as scheduled from Friday.” July 20: Indefinite nationwide strike starts with as many as 93 lakh trucks and other goods vehicles staying off the roads across the country. July 22: Tamil Nadu government announces that agricultural produce can be transported in State Transport Corporation buses, without causing disturbance to passengers. July 23: Malkit Singh warns that they may compel the transporters engaged in ferrying essential commodities to suspend operations if the government doesn't address their issues.  July 24: Telangana petroleum tank trucks owners observe a daylong strike. All the petroleum tankers in the state were off roads.

When have such protests taken place in the past

October 9, 2017: The AIMTC went on a two-day nationwide strike to protest against the GST and rise in diesel prices.

January 2009: The AIMTC went on a eight-day nationwide strike. It was called off after the transport ministry agreed to not increase the toll taxes at national highways and promised to look into issues relating to national permits and rationalisation of taxes.

The partaking federations

• Many lorry owners' federations across India have extended their support to the protest. 

• The Andhra Pradesh Lorry Owners Association (APLOA) decided that around 3 lakh Lorries from the state will stay off the roads. 

• The Federation of Madhya Pradesh Motors and Goods Transport Association announced that 95 per cent of the state's transporters are participating in the strike. 

• Associations in Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu have also joined the demonstration. 

• Essential services like water, milk and medicine, have been exempted from the strike. Leaders of AIMTC claimed about 75 per cent of 93 lakh goods vehicles in India joined the stir.

The cost of the truckers strike and how it affects the common man

• The sector is likely to suffer a business loss of about Rs. 4,000 crore per day for the truckers due to the suspension of operations. 

• The strike will also hamper the supply of goods.

• Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry has estimated that the loss due to this strike could be to the tune of Rs. 1,000 crore per day in the state.

• ASSOCHAM had also said that the current strike by truckers would cause a loss of Rs. 20,000-25,000 crores per day to the economy.

• According to lorry operators in Andhra Pradesh, the state had lost over 60 crores in the first two days of the strike.

• Tamil Nadu government will lose about Rs 100 crore a day, the state federation said.

• The protest has left one dead.

• On 23 July, a truck carrying vegetables from Mettupalayam in Coimbatore, was on its way to Chengannur in Alappuzha district of Kerala, when the supporters of the ongoing lorry strike, allegedly hurled stones at it. Mubarak Badshah, a cleaner hailing from Mettupalayam was killed while the driver sustained injuries in the incident. 

The ongoing truckers' strike has affected every single person directly or indirectly involved in this business. It also hit the sale of non-perishable items. The prices of vegetables, fruits and is expected to go up and cause greater inconvenience to people in the coming days. The truckers don't seem to give up until their demands are met by the government.